Effect of Selected Pretreatments and Subsequent Functional Finishes on Woven Jute Cotton Mixture Fabrics

Abstract

Jutefiberconventionallyisnotusedforproducingtextileproductsasithassomeshortcominginregardtofeel,stiffness,drape,coarsenesswash abilityandabrasion.Thestiffnessorhardnessoffabrichasgreatimpactonitsbendinglengthordrapecoefficient.Itiswidelybeingusedasanaturalchoiceforplantmulchingandruralroadpavementconstruction.Andduetobiodegradableandenvironmentfriendlycharacteristics,jutefabricshaveconsiderabledemandinhomeandabroad.Inthetropicalcountrieslikethatofourscottonclothingisextensively used,generaldemandtoreplacecottonwithjuteisduetoobviousreasonsofmeetingshortage ofcloths.Atthesametime,priceofthe100%cottonfabricishigherthanthejute-cottonunionfabric.That’swhyunionfabricmaybethereplacementof100%cottonfabric.ThemajorsourcesofsupplyofjuteliewithinthecommonwealthchieflyinIndiaandBangladesh.Henceattempts havebeenmadetoproducefabricsofjuteincombinationwithcottonforbetter fall.Thetextilefabricsusedinthisstudyarejutecottonmixturefabricswithcottonyamsinthewarpandjutecottonmixtureyamsofdifferentratiointheweftwereusedinthestudy.Thespecificationsaboutthejutecottonmixture fabricsusedinthisstudywereasfollows:a) Jutecottonmixturefabric(30/70):warpcount-30sNe,weftcount-8sNe,ends perinch-44,picks per inch-44,GSM-570b) Jutecottonmixturefabric(40/60):warpcount-30sNe,weftcount-4sNe,endsperinch-48,picks per inch-42,GSM-623c) Jutecottonmixturefabric(50/50):warpcount-30sNe,weftcount-6sNe,endsperinch-48,picksper inch-42,GSM-643d) Jutecottonmixturefabric(70/30);warpcount-30sNe,weftcount-8sNe,endsperinch-38,picks per inch-38,GSM-710 Thesefabricswerepretreatedformaintreatmentssuchasenzymatictreatment,dyeingandsiliconepolyurethanefinishing.Thepretreatedfabricsweresubjectedtoenzymatictreatmentwithcellulaseenzymeanddyeingusingreactivedyesandafterwhichthefabricweretreatedwithsiliconeandpolyurethanetoimpartsofteningfinish.Thesejutecottonmixturefabricsundergovariousphysicaltestsandcharacterizationtechniquesbeforeandafter finishing.Thephysicalpropertiessuchastensilestrength,tearingstrength,pilling,wickability,waterabsorbency,watervapourpermeability,airpermeability, thermalconductivity,flexuralrigidity,bendingmodulus,colourstrength(K/S)andcolourfastness(wash,rubandperspiration)weretestedandthefabricsweredonecharacterizationanalysisthroughmicroscopicstudy(SEM)andspectroscopicanalysis(FTIR).ThejutecottonmixturefabricsfinishedwithchitosanandtitaniumdioxideweretestedforantimicrobialactivityandantifungalactivityagainstbacterialstrainsaccordingtoAATCC100-2004andAATCC30-2004.TheTi02andchitosantreatedfabricsshowedgoodbacterialreductionbuttherewasnoantifungalactivity.TitaniumdioxidetreatedjutecottonfabricswereevaluatedforflammabilityunderASTMD6413.Jutecottonmixturefabricsshowedhightensilestrengthandtearingstrength.Afterfinishingtheflexuralrigidityandbendingmoduluswerelessleadingtogooddrapeability.Thewickability,waterabsorbencyandwater vapourpermeabilityparametersforevaluatingthecomfortcharacteristicsofthefabricsaregoodaftersofteningtreatment.Thesurfacemodificationof thejutecottonmixturefabricsafterfinishingledtogoodairpermeabilityof thefabrics.Alsothermalconductivityimprovedduetoimprovementwater absorbencywhichinhasgavegoodcolourstrengththechromavalueandbrightnessvaluesalsosignificantlychangedaccordingtothevariationsinjuteproportion.VI ThejutecottonmixturefabricswereobjectivelyanalysedforimprovementinhandvaluewiththeKESforPHVandTHV.Thetotalhandvalueof thefabricsaftertheapplicationoffinishhasincreasedsubsequently for allthejutecottonmixturefabrics.Hencefromtheoverallresultsitcouldbeconcludedthattheenzymaticandsofteningfinishedjutecottonmixturefabricscouldbemoresuitableforapparelpurposeswithexcellentcomfort.